Claude and Catalina arrive in Liberty City in October 2001 and immediately rob a bank. Catalina, however, turns on her boyfriend, shooting him and leaving him for dead, explaining that he is 'small time'. Claude later arrested by the [[LCPD in GTA III Era|Liberty City Police Department]] and convicted on all charges, facing ten years in prison. Whilst being transferred to a police station in [[Portland View]], [[Give Me Liberty|escapes]] from a police convoy after the [[Colombian Cartel]] attack to free the [[Oriental Gentleman]]. Claude and [[8-Ball]] escape to a [[Portland Island Safehouse (GTA III)|safehouse]] in the [[Red Light District]], before moving on to [[Luigi's Sex Club 7]]. [[Luigi Goterelli]], the owner, gives Claude his first job in the city, to [[Luigi's Girls|drive]] [[Misty]] from the [[Sweeney General Hospital|hospital]] back to the club.

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Claude and Catalina arrive in Liberty City in October 2001 and immediately rob a bank. Catalina, however, turns on her boyfriend, shooting him and leaving him for dead, explaining that he is 'small time'. Claude later arrested by the [[LCPD in GTA III Era|Liberty City Police Department]] and convicted on all charges, facing ten years in prison. Whilst being transferred to a prison in [[Portland View]], [[Give Me Liberty|escapes]] from a police convoy after the [[Colombian Cartel]] attack to free the [[Oriental Gentleman]]. Claude and [[8-Ball]] escape to a [[Portland Island Safehouse (GTA III)|safehouse]] in the [[Red Light District]], before moving on to [[Luigi's Sex Club 7]]. [[Luigi Goterelli]], the owner, gives Claude his first job in the city, to [[Luigi's Girls|drive]] [[Misty]] from the [[Sweeney General Hospital|hospital]] back to the club.

Claude, successful in his errand, continues to be employed by Goterelli, who also has him kill a [[Don't Spank Ma Bitch Up|drug dealer]] and [[Pump-Action Pimp|two pimps]], before having him [[Drive Misty For Me|drive]] Misty to [[Joey Leone|Joey Leone's]] [[Joey's Garage|Garage]]. Claude then begins to work for Joey, killing both [[Mike Forelli]] and [[Lee Chong]], before [[Cipriani's Chauffeur|chauffering]] [[Toni Cipriani]], later working for him against the [[Liberty City Triads|Triads]]. Claude, impressing the [[Leone Family]] hierarchy, is [[Salvatore's Called A Meeting|introduced]] to the [[Boss|Don]], [[Salvatore Leone]]. Salvatore, 'seeing nothing but bright things' for Claude, has him [[Cutting The Grass|kill]] [[Curly Bob]] (who was selling secrets to the Colombian Cartel, now led by Catalina) and later [[Bomb Da Base Act II|destroy]] a freighter used as a factory for the drug [[SPANK]]. During this time, Claude also works for [[El Burro]], the leader of the [[Diablos]], helping him on various tasks, and [[Marty Chonks]] in his attempts to get out of his various problems.

Claude, successful in his errand, continues to be employed by Goterelli, who also has him kill a [[Don't Spank Ma Bitch Up|drug dealer]] and [[Pump-Action Pimp|two pimps]], before having him [[Drive Misty For Me|drive]] Misty to [[Joey Leone|Joey Leone's]] [[Joey's Garage|Garage]]. Claude then begins to work for Joey, killing both [[Mike Forelli]] and [[Lee Chong]], before [[Cipriani's Chauffeur|chauffering]] [[Toni Cipriani]], later working for him against the [[Liberty City Triads|Triads]]. Claude, impressing the [[Leone Family]] hierarchy, is [[Salvatore's Called A Meeting|introduced]] to the [[Boss|Don]], [[Salvatore Leone]]. Salvatore, 'seeing nothing but bright things' for Claude, has him [[Cutting The Grass|kill]] [[Curly Bob]] (who was selling secrets to the Colombian Cartel, now led by Catalina) and later [[Bomb Da Base Act II|destroy]] a freighter used as a factory for the drug [[SPANK]]. During this time, Claude also works for [[El Burro]], the leader of the [[Diablos]], helping him on various tasks, and [[Marty Chonks]] in his attempts to get out of his various problems.

Contents

Character History

Life until 2001

Claude grew up in San Andreas and by 1992 had emerged as a top contender in an illegal racing ring and owned an abandoned garage in Doherty, San Fierro. He became involved with Catalina, who had recently split up with Carl Johnson, before racing Johnson in a losing effort. Following the loss, he hands over his garage to Johnson, before leaving San Andreas with Catalina. The two, heading towards Liberty City, go on a crime spree across the country, eventually reaching Liberty City in October 2001, nine years later.

After destroying the Cartel freighter, a paranoid Salvatore attempts to kill Claude by having him enter a bomb laden car. Salvatore's wife Maria, however, phones Claude and directs him to a small pier where the two meet Asuka Kasen, co-leader of the Yakuza, and flee to Staunton Island after Maria had told her husband that she was dating Claude. Asuka, unconvinced of Claude's loyalty, has him kill Salvatore Leone to prove himself, before having him kill a number of other people causing her problems. She later introduces him to her brother Kenji and Ray Machowski, a corrupt police man working for the Yakuza. Claude helps Kenji with his problems, including settling debts and freeing a man from prison, and helps Machowski in his attempts to remain unnoticed, eventually helping him flee the city by the airport.

Claude continues to look for work and finds employment with King Courtney, who has him attack the Diablos before attempting to kill him on orders from Catalina, and Donald Love, who has him kill Kenji Kasen disguised as a Colombian Cartel gangster, to provoke a war. Asuka, unaware of Claude's role in her brothers death, launches an assault on a Cartel controlled building site and begins to torture Miguel, Catalina's right hand man, into giving away Cartel secrets. Armed with the information, Asuka sends Claude on various missions to hurt Cartel operations, including stopping the selling of and stealing a shipment of SPANK.

Personality

Claude is a laid-back, middle aged man that appears almost emotionless regardless of the situation. He will take orders from his bosses without restraint and usually gives a nod or two to show that he understands; even when he is getting scolded or shouted at by his bosses for doing something wrong. He never speaks, and will only make a slight grunt when he is hurt, or an "Oah!" whenever he is killed.

Note - Claude's age is never revealed, though it is obvious he was born in the 70s, as San Andreas takes place in 1992, making him 20-25 at that time, and GTA III takes place in 2001, making him around his mid 30s at that time.

Claude does not speak in either of his appearances, remaining silent, and is the only protagonist in the Grand Theft Auto III Era to do so. Maria Latore discusses this with Lazlow on Chatterbox FM, saying that a man she's just met "don't talk too much". However, as radio stations repeat everything over and over again, you can hear her saying that before she even meets Claude.